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' W. S. BURROUGHS.

FOLDING COOP.

No. 255,488. Patented Mar. 28,1882.

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' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

WILLIAM S. BURROUGHS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO AMOS E. COLBY, OF SAMEILAOE.

FOLDING cooP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,488, dated March 28, 1882.

Application filed January 5, 1822.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM S. BURRoUeHs, of St. Louis, Missouri, have made a new and useful Improvement in Folding Coops, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in whieh.

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the improved coop Fig. 2, a side elevation of the coop as folded; Fig. 3, a bottom plan; and Figs. 4 to 9, details, being respectively a top View of a. portion of the lower frame,.a side elevation of the part last named, a section on the line a: w of Fig. 5, a view showing portions of both the upper and lower frames and the connecting-bar, an elevation from the inner side of a portion of one of the frames and wires or bars, and a sectional elevation of the removable bottom.

The same letters denote the same parts.

The present improvement consists mainly of a top and bottom frame, united by a series of rods or bars, which, when the coop is unfolded, are upward and downward, extending from the top frame to the bottom frame, and forming the side wall of the coop, but which are at both ends jointed or pivoted to the top and bottom frames, respectively, for the purpose of enabling the coop to be closed into a compact form by twisting or moving in a spiral direction one frame upon or toward the other until the top and bottom frames are closed together, as seen more distinctly in the drawings, where A represents the bottom frame of the coop;

, B, the top frame; and (J O, the rods or bars extending from one frame to the other frame, and at both ends 0 c beingjournaled,jointed, or pivoted in the frames A B. The frames are preferably of an gle-iron, and the rods or bars are preferably of wire of suitable strength. The top frame, B, is suitably closed by a system of wires, rods, bars, netting, or other suitable cover, D,in which is a door, d, or the cover may be imperforate, if desired.

E represents the bottom of the coop. To enable it to be readily cleaned it is removable from the coop, and, to this end it is made to fold upon the hinges e c. When unfolded and (No model.) a

place by means of suitable detachable fastenings.

In Fig. 1 the coop is shown opened out, as when to be used.

The coop is prevented from collapsing preferably as follows: The flan ges a a of the frames A B are indented, grooved, or corrugated, as shown at a a, Figs. 4, 5, 6, into which depressions, grooves, &c., the rods 0 0 fall when the coop is unfolded, and when and as long as the rods are in the grooves the coop is securely held in its opened form. To further stiffen and brace the coop when unfolded the braces F, with catches f, are used. The various parts are so constructed, preferably, as to cause the rods 0 to spring down into the grooves a as the rods come in line with them, and thus practically remain locked therein until sprung out of the grooves.

After the coop has been used and it is desired to return it the braces F are detached from the catches f, the rods 0 sprung or recoop closed down upon the bottom, as seen in moved from the grooves a, and the top of the Fig. 2, the operation being effected by moving".

the top and bottom of the coop spirally toward each other, bringing the rods 0 G into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the entire construction into a very compact shape for shipment.

The operation is readily performed, the rods G turning easily in their bearings in the frames A B. When the coop is folded the braces F are conveniently confined by hooking the free end of the brace over the top of the frame, as shown in Fig. 2.

While theimprovement is especially valuable in shipping poultry, the coop can also be used as a frame, box, cage, or other receptacle, inclosure, or construction in handling and shipping fruit and vegetables and for avariety of other purposes.

I claim- 1. The combination of the frames A B and the rods 0 C, said frames having the depressions a a, substantially as and for the purpose dewhen the receptacle is opened, form the side scribed. r wall thereof, but which are jointed to the top 2. The combination of the frames A B, the and bottom frames for the purpose of enabling 15 rods 0 (J, and the brace F, substantially as the receptacle to be closed intoa compact form 5 described. by moving in a spiral direction one frame to- 3. The combination of the frames A B, the ward the other until the two frames are closed rods 0 G, and the brace F, said frames havtogether.

ing the depressions a a, substantially as (le- T. S- BURROUGHS.

scribed.

10 4. A folding coop, box, cage, or other re- W'itnesses:

ceptacle consisting of a top and a bottom CHAS. D. MOODY, frame united by a series of rods or bars which, CHARLES PrcKLEs. 

